Who was the first black man to rule South Africa?

The first black man to rule South Africa in a modern political context was Nelson Mandela, who became the country’s first black president in 1994 after the end of apartheid. However, if considering historical rulers, figures like Shaka Zulu and King Cetshwayo were significant leaders of the Zulu Kingdom long before the establishment of modern South Africa. Their leadership laid the groundwork for the Zulu nation and its influence in the region.